Monument of Mavri Rachi, Palaiokastro

Mavri Rachi is Psara’s most emblematic historic monument. It is located at the southern tip of the Palaio­kastro peninsula, which encloses the harbor on the west. At the summit stands a structure with two chapels, dedicated to Agia Anna and Agios Ioannis Prodromos. During the Greek Revolution, the Psarians fortified the spot, installing cannons and building a battery that served as a fort. Mavri Rachi is linked to the heroic sacrifice of its 120 defenders in 1824, who, seeing the struggle lost, blew themselves up rather than surrender. From that time survive a few wall sections and the rock where the powder magazine stood. Today, a simple monument recalls the self-sacrifice and courage of those who chose death over captivity.